Hydrangea plant named ‘GRHP12’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Hydrangea paniculata plant named ‘GRHP12’ that is characterized by its flower panicles that change in color from lime green and white to green and pink to dark cherry pink as they mature, its well-branched plant habit with sturdy stems, its floriferous blooming habit, its dense and sturdy flower panicles, and its large flower panicles with rounded, large sepals.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea paniculata.

Varietal denomination: ‘GRHP12’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea paniculata and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘GRHP12’. ‘GRHP12’ represents a new panicle Hydrangea, a perennial shrub grown for landscape use.

The new Hydrangea resulted from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Valkenburg, The Netherlands. Goals of the breeding program were to develop new cultivars of Hydrangea paniculata with sturdy stems, healthy foliage, and unique flower colors. The Inventor made crosses in 2009 between unnamed and unpatented proprietary plants of Hydrangea paniculata in the Inventor's breeding program as both the female and male parents. The exact characteristics of the parents are unknown as seeds were pooled and sown from several crosses. ‘GRHP12’ was selected as a single unique plant in summer of 2012 from the resulting seedlings of the above crosses.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished using stem cuttings by the Inventor in summer of 2012 in Valkenburg, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation using stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘GRHP12’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea.

-   -   1. ‘GRHP12’ exhibits inflorescences with flower panicles that         change in color from lime green and white to green and pink to         dark cherry pink as they mature.     -   2. ‘GRHP12’ exhibits a well-branched plant habit with sturdy         stems.     -   3. ‘GRHP12’ exhibits a floriferous blooming habit.     -   4. ‘GRHP12’ exhibits dense and sturdy flower panicles.     -   5. ‘GRHP12’ exhibits large flower panicles with rounded, large         sepals.

‘GRHP12’ can be most closely compared to the Hydrangea paniculata cultivars ‘Limelight’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874), ‘DVP Pinky’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,166), and ‘GRHPLF’. ‘Limelight’ is similar to ‘GRHP12’ in having dense flower panicles, a well-branched plant habit, a floriferous blooming habit, and a similar plant size. ‘Limelight’ differs from ‘GRHP12’ in having inflorescences with flower panicles that change in color from white with lime-green to lighter pink tones later in the season and sterile sepals that are smaller in size. ‘Pinky Winky’ is similar to ‘GRHP12’ in having a well-branched plant habit. ‘Pinky Winky’ differs from ‘GRHP12’ in having flower panicles that are less dense, smaller, more pointed in shape and in being more white in color (lacking green) with less pink coloration when container grown.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosures and/or sales that fall within a one-year grace period to the filing date. Disclosures include website listings by Plantipp (the breeder's representative for licensing, Visions (photographs only), Persishable News, Globeplanter, KVBC, GrootGroenPlus, Boom In Business, dergartenbasu, Flora News, Gabot, Varb, and SZKOLKARSTWO.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea. The photographs were taken of three-year-old plants of ‘GRHP12’ grown outdoors in a trial field in Valkenburg, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of several plants of ‘GRHP12’ (center) in bloom in fall.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘GRHP12’ in fall.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘GRHP12’ in late summer.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 2.5-year-old plants of ‘GRHP12’ as grown outdoors in a trial garden in Vorden, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Mid-summer through autumn in The             Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub, panicle type Hydrangea.         -   Plant habit.—Medium size, dense, and upright.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches 100 to 120 cm in height and             spread ion the landscape.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility and resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, NN155A and 164A in color.         -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—6 to 8 weeks for root initiation with a             finished plant produced in in a P9 container in about 12             months from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Stem color.—Young; 145B, mature; 200C, old bark; N199B.         -   Stem size.—Average of 66 cm in length (excluding             inflorescence) and 8 mm in diameter.         -   Stem surface.—Stems are slightly pubescent and covered with             lenticels an average of 2 mm in length, mature bark is             mostly smooth and lacks fasciation.         -   Internode length.—An average of 5 cm.         -   Branching.—Freely branching with an average of 15 lateral             branches, sturdy. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper surface 145B, lower             surface 145B to 145C.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 15.2 cm in length and 7.3 cm in             width.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces; matte, and pubescent.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 137A, young lower surface             137C, mature upper surface 137B, mature lower surface 137C             to 137D.         -   Petioles.—An average of 2.1 mm in length and 3 mm in             diameter, both surfaces matte and slightly pubescent, color             145D and 187B to 187C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal conical panicle, comprised of             sterile and fertile flowers.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Sterile flowers; persistent             for an average of 6 weeks, fertile flowers; self-cleaning,             an average of 5 days.         -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 24 cm in height and 20 cm             in diameter.         -   Flower number.—An average of 300 sterile flowers and 150             fertile flowers per panicle.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; up to 5 cm in diameter and 1.2             m in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 5 mm in diameter             and 3 mm in depth.         -   Flower type.—Rotate.         -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; an average of 2 mm in length             and diameter, round in shape, 145D, fertile flowers; an             average of 3 mm in length and diameter, ovoid in shape, 145C             to 145D in color.         -   Petals.—Sterile flowers; petals do not open and remain in             bud stage, fertile flowers; 5, rotate and cruciform in             shape, ovate in shape, acute apex, cuneate base, entire             margins, average of 3 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width, both             surfaces glabrous and slightly glossy, color; when opening             and fully open upper and lower surface NN155D.         -   Peduncles.—Primary peduncles; strong, flattened oval in             shape, an average of 3 cm in length and 2 mm in width.             secondary peduncles 2 cm in length and 2 mm in width, 145C             to 145D in color, surface is matte and pubescent.         -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; moderate strength, an average of             1.8 cm in length and 1 mm in width, 145D in color, surface             is matte and pubescent, fertile flowers; moderate strength,             an average of 2 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter, 145C to 145D             in color, surface is matte and slightly pubescent.         -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; 4 to 5, rotate, elliptic to ovate             in shape, obtuse apex, acute base, entire margins, average             of 2.2 cm in length and 1.7 cm in width, both surfaces             glabrous and matte, color: upper and lower surface when             opening; 145B to 145C, upper surface when fully open; 145C             to 145D, later in the season sepals change to NN155D and             145D with flushes of 63A, as the sepals mature they start to             become 60A to 60B, becoming fully 60A to 60B in autumn,             lower surface when fully open; 145C to 145D with 60C to 60D,             fertile flowers; 5, rotate, ovate in shape, acute apex,             broad cuneate base, entire margins, 2 mm in length, 1 mm in             width, both surfaces glabrous and matte, color: when opening             and fully open upper and lower surface; NN155D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Sterile flowers; flowers do not open, fertile             flowers; 1 pistil, an average of 2 mm in length, stigma;             club-shaped and 157B in color, style; 1 mm in length, NN155D             in color, ovary is 157D in color.         -   Androecium.—Sterile flowers; flowers do not open, fertile             flowers; stamens; average of 10, filaments; 3 mm in length,             NN155D in color, anthers; broad oblong in shape, 1 mm in             length, 155D in color, pollen; low to moderate quantity,             156C in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—None observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘GRHP12’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 